Groucho Marx stars in the TV adaptation of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado." Other performers include Helen Traubel, Dennis King, Stanley Holloway and Groucho's daughter Melinda Marx. No opening or closing credits are recorded on this tape, however, the play is complete.

#7483:
YOU BET YOUR LIFE
1961-00-00,
NBC,
?? min.
Groucho Marx

October 5th, 1950- September 21st, 1961- NBC
1980-Syndicated, 1992- Syndicated
Comedic filmed quiz show featuring competitive questions and humorous conversation with the contestants. The NBC version of the show was hosted by Groucho Marx with his longtime sidekick George Fenneman serving as announcer and scorekeeper. A revival of the show was attempted in 1980 with Buddy Hackett as host. Another revival with host Bill Cosby was attempted in 1992. Both syndicated revivals were unsuccessful.

Samples of American humor from the beginnings till now are examined. A host of stars participate including Phil Silvers, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Eddie Cantor, Burns and Allen, Buster Keaton, Fred Allen, Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, Groucho Marx and Jack Benney. This premiere show for the series was produced by Donald B. Hyatt and his Project 20 staff. Written by Richard Hanser and Rod Reed. Original musical score by Robert Russell Bennett.

Groucho Marx is the on and off screen narrator for this view of Americans getting off their high horses and into critterless carriages. Music by Skitch Henderson in this Project 20 venture. Written by Philip Reisman Jr. Initial airing was on Oct. 22, 1961.

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.

A classic moment in television as Jackie
Gleason and Groucho Marx "top" one another. In a Reginald Van Gleason III
sketch, Gleason and Marx sing the duet
"Oh Mr. Gleason, Oh Mr. Marx," and Groucho's favorite, "Show Me A Rose," is
performed by the one and only Groucho
Marx.

September 29, 1962-September 12, 1970. This broadcast is the complete version of program #1027 which is a 21 minute version. Jackie Gleason was a fixture on CBS for most of two decades. In the fall of 1962 Gleason was back to a Saturday slot, which he occupied for another eight seasons. From 1962 to 1966 it was called "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine," and featured topical comedy sketches as well as musical numbers. One of Gleason's characters, Joe the Bartender, appeared regularly. Addressing the camera as his patron, Joe told a few jokes before calling out the tipsy Crazy Guggenheim from the back room. Guggenheim, played by Frank Fontaine, traded quips with Joe and then sang a song. Sue Ann Langdon was also featured regularly. In 1966 Gleason moved the operation to Miami Beach. The show was retitled "The Jackie Gleason Show." For the first time in almost a decade, production of "The Honeymooners" was resumed. Gleason was reunited with Art Carney; Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean were added to play Alice and Trixie. Many of these later "Honeymooners" sketches ran a full hour, and the accent was now on music.

1966-1971 syndicated, 1971-1999, PBS.
Firing Line was an American public affairs program hosted by William F. Buckley Jr. Its 1504 episodes over 33 years, made Firing Line the longest-running public affairs show in television history with a single host.
Humor and the Marx wit predominate as guest Groucho Marx trades ad-libs with host William F. Buckley.

September 13, 1967-May 12, 1971. This was the "Johnny Carson Friar's Club Roast" broadcast. The 1967 version of "The Kraft Music Hall" was an hour show, which lasted four seasons. It was hosted by a guest celebrity each week.

Groucho Marx is roasted. George Jessel emcees this hour variety roast series featuring testimonials to guests of honor. This syndicated series aired from September 15, 1968 to March 9, 1969. Reruns ran through March 1, 1970.

September 29, 1962-September 12, 1970. Jackie Gleason was a fixture on CBS for most of two decades. In the fall of 1962 Gleason was back to a Saturday slot, which he occupied for another eight seasons. From 1962 to 1966 it was called "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine," and featured topical comedy sketches as well as musical numbers. One of Gleason's characters, Joe the Bartender, appeared regularly. Addressing the camera as his patron, Joe told a few jokes before calling out the tipsy Crazy Guggenheim from the back room. Guggenheim, played by Frank Fontaine, traded quips with Joe and then sang a song. Sue Ann Langdon was also featured regularly. In 1966 Gleason moved the operation to Miami Beach. The show was retitled "The Jackie Gleason Show." For the first time in almost a decade, production of "The Honeymooners" was resumed. Gleason was reunited with Art Carney; Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean were added to play Alice and Trixie. Many of these later "Honeymooners" sketches ran a full hour, and the accent was now on music.

Before a live studio audience, Groucho Marx gives a monologue on a typical day in the life of Groucho. He answers questions from the audience and interviews a spokesman for the society against naked animals. Groucho himself is briefly interviewed by announcer Ed Jordan.

The 46th annual Academy Awards presentation broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles, California.
Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, David Niven, and, John Huston serve as hosts. Director George Lucas made his Academy Award debut for American Grafitti, Katherine Hepburn made her first and only appearance at the ceremony. Susan Heyward made her last public appearance before dying of brain cancer. Producer Samuel Goldwyn is honored posthumously and Groucho Marx is presented with an honorary Academy Award for his contributions to the cinema.